Portable garage



Sept. 3, 1968 a Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1967 n m a H M m 0 e r M a INVENTOR.

C. V. HORTON PORTABLE GARAGE Sept. 3, 1968 3 Sheets-Shee Filed Jan. 26, 1967 k wi na C. V. HORTON PORTABLE GARAGE Sept. 3, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 26, 1967 m m n m 0 H W V m e r h C wm mm mm Q vm R .vv mu I .3 M M Q N 3,399,686 PORTABLE GARAGE Clarence V. Horton, P.0. Box 762,

Greeley, Colo. 80632 Filed Jan. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 611,884 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The vehicle shelter of the instant invention includes a plurality of generally inverted U-shaped flexible top supporting bows which are pivotally supported from elongated longitudinally extending ground supported base members of the shelter in a manner such that swinging movement of one of the bows from a horizontal collapsed position to an upstanding vertical position will automatically, by means of the flexible cover supported from the bows, swing the remaining bows from their collapsed positions to their upright operative positions. In addition, the vehicle shelter includes treadle means operatively connected to the first mentioned top bow and operative, upon downward displacement effected by an associated vehicle wheel, to pivot the first mentioned bow to an upright top supporting position thereby automatically erecting the vehicle shelter above an associated vehicle as the latter is moved into a predetermined position. Further, the shelter is of lightweight construction so as to be adapted to be manually carried from one location to another and includes portions thereof adapted to underlie one or more wheels of the associated vehicle over which the shelter is erected so as to anchor the lightweight shelter to the ground by the associated vehicle against blowing by strong winds.

The main object of this invention is to provide a lightweight collapsible vehicle shelter which may be utilized for the purpose of sheltering an associated vehicle from the elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible shelter of such lightweight construction that it may be readily manually transported from one location to another.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lightweight shelter in accordance with the immediately preceding object and including means by which the associated vehicle may be utilized to anchor the shelter to the ground.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a lightweight vehicle shelter in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, where- 3,399,686 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 in like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle shelter in erected position and with portions of the flexible cover portion thereof being broken away and illustrated in section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the movable portions of the shelter in their relative positions when the shelter is collapsed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane designated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 2.

Referring nOW more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the vehicle shelter of the instant invention which is conveniently supported upon a ground surface 12. The shelter 10 includes a base referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 and comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and generally parallel upwardly opening channel members 16 and 18 defining a pair of parallel trackways along which the wheels of an associated vehicle are adapted to roll. Each of the channel members 16 and 18 includes inner and outer upstanding flange portions 20 and 22 and the shelter 10 includes a plurality of inverted generally U-shaped bows 24 defining a pair of parallel legs 26 and 28 interconnected at their upper ends by means of an integral bight portion 30, the lower ends of each pair of legs 26 and 28 including horizontally inwardly directed end portions 32 and 34 rotatably received in suitable bores 36 and 38 in the corresponding outer flanges 22.

A flexible cover assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 40 is provided and includes a top panel section 42 and a pair of opposite side wall panel sections 44 and 46 as well as an end wall panel section 48. The end wall panel section 48 extends between one set of corresponding ends of the panel sections 42, 44 and 46 and closes the rear end of the vehicle shelter 10 when the bows 24 are in their upright positions illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The side wall panel section 44 is secured at various points to the corresponding legs 26, the side wall panel section 46 is secured at various points to the legs 28 and the top wall panel section 42 is secured at various points to the bight portions 30.

A pair of main expansion springs 52 and 54 are secured between the flanges 22 and the legs 26 and 28 of the bow 24 remote from the end wall panel 48 and yieldingly urge that bow 24 toward a collapsed position such as that illustrated in part in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. In addition, each of the other bows 24 has a pair of minor expansion springs 56 and 58 interconnected between the legs 26 and 28 thereof and the corresponding flanges 22 so as to also yieldingly urge those bows 24 to collapsed positions.

The side wall panel 46 has a horizontally disposed generally U-shaped slit 60 formed therein which may be selectively closed and opened by means of a slide fastener assembly 62 operatively associated with the adjacent portions of the side Wall panel 46 defining the slit 60 and When the slide fastener assembly is opened the portion of the side panel section 46 embraced by the resultant slit 60 defines a door which may be folded either inwardly or outwardly to form an access opening into which the door on the drivers side of an associated vehicle may be swung so as to enable the driver of the vehicle to dismount from the latter, close the vehicle door, and then close the slide fastener assembly 62.

A pivot shaft 64 has its opposite ends journaled through a pair of sleeve members 66 carried by the ends of the channel members 16 and 18 adjacent the springs 52 and 54 and a pair of bell cranks 68 and 70 are mounted on the opposite end portions of the pivot shaft 64 outwardly of the remote sides of the channel members 16 and 18. Each of the bell cranks 68 and 70 includes first and second arms 72 and 74, the arms 72 generally paralleling each other and the arms 74 generally paralleling each other. The free ends of the arms 74 are provided with laterally and inwardly directed pins 76 upon which rollers 78 are journaled and the rollers 78 engage the lower ends of the legs 26 and 28 of the adjacent bow 24 in a manner so as to swing the bow 24 from a generally horizontally disposed collapsed position to the upright position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 1 when the bell cranks 68 are pivoted in clockwise directions from the positions thereof illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings to the positions thereof illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The shorter arms 72 have the opposite ends of a bracing rod 80 secured thereto by means of suitable fasteners 82 and the end portions of the rod 80 immediately adjacent the free ends of the arms 72 are journaled through sleeves 84 and 86 carried by the undersurface portions of ramp defining channel members 88 and 90. The channel members 88 and 98 are of slightly less width than the channel members 16 and 18 and have corresponding ends thereof which are receivable between the flanges and 22 of the corresponding channel members 16 and 18 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

When the bows 24 are in their collapsed positions illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings the arms 74 are generally horizontally disposed and the arms 72 are generally vertically disposed so as to elevate the sleeves 84 and 86 above the surface 12 and thereby upwardly incline the ends of the channel members 88 and 90 which are receivable in the adjacent ends of the channel members 16 and 18.

Then, when it is desired to erect the shelter 10 over an associated vehicle, the vehicle may be driven toward the lower ends of the inclined channel members 88 and 90 and up onto the latter whereby the same will be urged downwardly so as to pivot the bell cranks 68 and 70 in counterclockwise directions. This counterclockwise pivotal movement of the bell cranks 68 and 70 will of course cause similar counterclockwise swinging movement of the bows 24 from their collapsed positions illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings to their upright positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings and thus cause the cover assembly 40 to be erected over the associated vehicle as the latter is driven onto the channel members 16 and 18. Of course, the rear wheels of the associated vehicle are to remain at least on the terminal end portions of the channel members 88 and 90 overlapping the channel members 16 and 18 so as to insure that downward pressure on the sleeves 84 and 86 will be maintained thereby preventing the bows 24 from pivoting in clockwise positions from the positions thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings toward their collapsed positions. After the vehicle has been driven onto its final position on the channel members 16 and 18, the driver of the vehicle may swing open the door on his side of the vehicle so as to outwardly swing the portion of the side wall cover section 46 bound by the slit 60, the slide fastener assembly 72 having been previously left open. Then, the driver of the vehicle may dismount from the latter, close his door and then close the slide fastener assembly 62. Of course, when the operator of the vehicle again wishes to use his vehicle, the slide fastener assembly 62 is first opened and then the vehicle door may be opened so that the operator may mount his vehicle prior to its being moved from within the shelter 10, the slide fastener assembly 62 being left open until the next time the vehicle is moved into the shelter 10.

Although the rear of the shelter 10 may remain open when the latter is erected, the top wall panel section 42 may include a rearward extension 42' operable to hang down across the rear end of the shelter 10 and the side wall panel sections 44 and 46 may include short rearward extensions 44' and 46' disposed so as to be inwardly directed from the opposite sides of the shelter at the rear end thereof with the free edge portions of the extensions 44' and 46' and the opposite side edge portions of the extension 42 including coacting portions of a pair of opposite side slide fastener assemblies 45 and 47 operable to releasably secure the extension 42 in closed position across the rear of the shelter 10. Further, other arrangements of rear closure panels may be provided if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vehicle shelter adapted to be supported from a surface over which vehicles may move and including a base, a plurality of cover supporting members movably supported from said base for movement relative thereto between collapsed positions and extended cover supporting positions, said vehicle shelter including movable treadle means operative to be shifted from a rest position to an active position upon movement of a vehicle toward a position over which said cover supporting members may be erected, said treadle means being operatively connected to said cover supporting members for movement of the latter from said collapsed positions to said extended cover supporting positions in response to movement of said treadle means from said rest position to said active position.

2. In combination, a vehicle shelter including a base portion supported from a surface over which vehicles may move, a collapsible cover assembly including portions movably supported from said base for movement between lowered collapsed positions and elevated extended positions defining a cover over a portion of said surface to which a vehicle to be covered may upon movement along a predetermined path, said shelter including actuating means movably supported from said base portion and shiftable between a'rest position and an active position, said actuating means being operatively connected to said movable portions of said cover assembly for their movement to their elevated positions in response to movement of said actuating means to said active position, said actuating means including a portion adapted to be engaged by said vehicle upon movement of the latter along said path to said portion of said surface and moved to said active position so as to cause said cover assembly to be automatically erected over said vehicle.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said portion of said actuating means includes a treadle adapted to be depressed by the wheels of said vehicle as it moves to said portion of said surface.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said shelter is of lightweight construction and adapted to be manually carried from one location to another and means adapted to underlie at least some of the Wheels of said vehicle when said assembly is erected so as to anchor said shelter to said surface when said shelter is erected and thereby prevent its theft or blowing from its placed position relative to said surface in a strong Wind.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel opposite side longitudinally extending members, said cover supporting members comprising a plurality of generally inverted U-shaped bows pivotally secured to said opposite side members at points spaced therealong for rotation about axes extending between said opposite side members and the lower end portions of the legs of said bows, a flexible cover disposed over and secured to each of said bows.

6. The combination of claim wherein said opposite side members define longitudinally extending track members adapted to support and have rolled therealong and positioned thereon the corresponding side Wheels of an associated wheeled vehicle.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel opposite side longitudinally extending members, said cover supporting members comprising a plurality of generally inverted U- shaped bows pivotally secured to said opposite side members at points spaced therealong for rotation about axes extending between said opposite side members and the lower end portions of the legs of said bows, a flexible cover disposed over and secured to each of said bows, said flexible cover including opposite side walls, one of said side walls having an upstanding generally C-shaped slit formed therein and being provided with a slide fastener assembly for selectively closing said slit.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel opposite side longitudinally extending members, said cover supporting members comprising a plurality of generally inverted U-shaped bows pivotally secured to said opposite side members at points spaced therealong for rotation about axes extending between said opposite side members and the lower end portions of the legs of said bows, a flexible cover disposed over and secured to each of said bows, and means operatively connected between the legs of at least one of said bows and said opposite side members yieldingly urging said one bow toward its collapsed position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said opposite side members define longitudinally extending track members adapted to support and have rolled therealong and positioned thereon the corresponding side wheels of an associated Wheeled vehicle.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel opposite side longitudinally extending members, said cover supporting members comprising a plurality of generally inverted U- shaped bows pivotally secured to said opposite side members at points spaced therealong for rotation about axes extending between said opposite side members and the lower end portions of the legs of said bows, a flexible cover disposed over and secured to each of said bows, said flexible cover including opposite side walls, one of said side walls having an upstanding generally C-shaped slit formed therein and being provided with a slide fastener assembly for selectively closing said slit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,698,629 1/1955 Hall -5 2,930,387 3/1960 Streich et a1. 1351 3,095,231 6/1963 Reed 135-1 3,131,705 5/1964 Marino 135-5 3,231,305 1/1966 Beckman 1351 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

PETER M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

